DAN DARE #1

[MattBrady]

Virgin Comics has provided Newsarama with a six page preview of Dan Dare #1 by Garth Ennis and Gary Erskine. The debut issue of the new series is due in stores this coming week, November 28th.

From Virgin’s original press release about the acquisition of the character and Ennis being tapped to write it:

Dan Dare has been an icon since 1950. Elaborate stories of his space travel and galactic battles defending people of the universe captivated post-War baby boomers. Dan Dare’s adventures burst to the forefront of pop culture, selling nearly 1 million copies each week in the pages of the Eagle Comic.

“Dan Dare is the quintessential British hero. He’s our Captain America, our Superman, our Batman, he’s all of them rolled into one. He’s the original and the best.” said Garth Ennis, recipient of several National Comics Awards for the best in UK comics and Will Eisner Awards for the best in US comics.

“Dan Dare is an heroic, thoughtful and fiercely independent character; I was an avid reader of his epic journeys. It is a pleasure for Virgin Comics to be involved with such a legendary character – one of the original great aviators” said Sir Richard Branson.

“Dan Dare is the real original Super Hero. In the 50’s, on the front page of The Eagle, he was selling one million copies a week. Today, his impact and appeal to readers across the UK and around the world can be even greater with Virgin Comics. This is a perfect partnership.” said Colin Frewin, CEO of The Dan Dare Corporation. “Superman, Batman and Spider-Man beware – Dan Dare – Pilot of the Future is back to protect us all.

Virgin Comics’ Dan Dare is set in the future, albeit not too many decades from the present day. Colonel Dare is still vibrant and courageous – but now he’s retired. His retirement is a self-imposed exile, the result of his disgust with politics and the post-nuclear warfare that has destroyed North America and much of Asia – leaving the UK as the world’s last remaining superpower. Readers familiar with Dan Dare stories will recognize many of the original cast including a wiser and more experienced Digby; the innovative, brilliant and beautiful Professor Peabody; and of course the enemy of all that is good, the super-intelligent ruler of the Treens – The Mekon, together with a mix of galactic evil beings.

[Dr13Bone]

I loved the mini-series the Ministry of Space which dealt with a somewhat darker story of an alternate history of the U.K. becoming a power in outer space. But from what I read a lot of it came from Dan Dare (even if not directly).

I look forward to this new series and wonder if maybe Virgin Publishing might be able to throw some of the original source material on to whet our appetites for the feast that is to come.

Hmmm! After reading that last line I'd best go get some breakfast.

[mattyhare]

ACE! I'm from the town (even the small village within the town) Where Dan Dare was created, by an eccentric vicar and a brilliant young artist. In a shed, if I'm right. Nice to see a local boy doing so well!

[Dr13Bone]

Originally Posted by mattyhare

ACE! I'm from the town (even the small village within the town) Where Dan Dare was created, by an eccentric vicar and a brilliant young artist. In a shed, if I'm right. Nice to see a local boy doing so well!

I am going to have to look into this, the way it sounds the story behind the story is probably way cool!

[edhopper]

I did not hear about this title until now.
I also loved "Ministry". I'll be buying this.

[Ralph Mathieu]

I'm looking forward to this, especially if Erskine does more than four issues of the art (in a row).

I don't know why publishers are still telling people that books will be out on Nov. 28th though. This year for some odd reasonn on the week after Thanksgiving the books will be out on Thursday, Nov. 29th (this hasn't happened before and is going to throw off a lot of people, even the people who have been told this in advance).

[ShinAkuma666]

Its Ennis, so I will pick it up, the art looks great, will have to check Ministry of Space also.

[Arion]

Originally Posted by edhopper

I did not hear about this title until now.
I also loved "Ministry". I'll be buying this.

I'm glad I pre-ordered it.

[hlbimage]

Loved the recent CGI show and dying to read this. Glad they brought in a Brit to write Dan Dare.

[Doc Nero]

Been a fan of Dan Dare since he headlined the first issue of 2000a.d. in 1977 and after that the re-launched Eagle comic in the 80's.

One of my favourite purchases is the first collected edition of Operation Saturn.

One of the Icons of the British Golden Age of comics. This is on my collect list.

For some reason Digby here reminds me of Nicholas Courtney (The Brigadier from Doctor Who.) as he looks now.

[astronato]

This is the first Virgin Comic that I am interested in and have added to my pull list.

I wish Virgin Comics, would bring us a new Thunderbirds comic with backup stories about Stingray and Captain Scarlet.

[Drcharles]

Thanks for the Preview,
I have to admit Im interested in this now .........

[ArchonComics]

They had me at Garth.

[Punchy]

This looks great.

Ennis seems to be a little more restrained here, more respectful than you'd expect.

Which is good?

[darthdad]

I'm sooo glad that I pre-ordered this. The art looks outstanding, and I love a good sci-fi yarn, and I definetly get the feeling that, that is exactly what we're going to get from Ennis here.

can't wait to read this on wednesday or thursday which ever day new comics show up this week.

[Comic-Reader]

I have all the reprint books that Titan has been putting out for the last couple of years, so I'll be picking this up.

[reenold]

Yeah, Ennis is more respectable here, as expected after hearing that he loved the character. I really like him when he writes like that, it really shows his talent to those who can't see past the gore and obscenity in his more typical works.

[NickEden]

Originally Posted by Dr13Bone

I look forward to this new series and wonder if maybe Virgin Publishing might be able to throw some of the original source material on to whet our appetites for the feast that is to come.

Actually there have been some pretty nice Hardcover editions being published over the last few years by Titan Books. While a UK publisher they are available from Amazon.com - just search for Dan Dare.

Not quite as nice as the Hawk Books editions from the start of the nineties, but they were exceptional.

[md62]

Originally Posted by astronato

This is the first Virgin Comic that I am interested in and have added to my pull list.

Same here.

[Panelologist77]

Originally Posted by hlbimage

Loved the recent CGI show and dying to read this. Glad they brought in a Brit to write Dan Dare.

Garth's Irish.

P.

[EMeadow]

I'm waiting to see if Ellis decides to write an mini myself.

[JohnLynch]

Interesting. I just might have to surprise myself and check this out.

[Elliot Mears]

Originally Posted by Panelologist77

Garth's Irish.

P.

Northern Irish, which is part of the UK, and not the Republic of Ireland.

[Metalleg]

Originally Posted by Elliot Mears

Northern Irish, which is part of the UK, and not the Republic of Ireland.

He's Northern Irish Catholic, which means he would see himself as Irish, as opposed to Northern Irish Protestant, in which case he would see himself as British. These (of course) are generalisations, but it goes to show what a messed up place N. Ireland is (I'm from there, so I know this first hand).

Still... looking forward to Dan Dare - one of my fav writers on one of my fav characters.

[Mark Cardwell]

Originally Posted by Metalleg

He's Northern Irish Catholic, which means he would see himself as Irish, as opposed to Northern Irish Protestant, in which case he would see himself as British. These (of course) are generalisations, but it goes to show what a messed up place N. Ireland is (I'm from there, so I know this first hand).

Still... looking forward to Dan Dare - one of my fav writers on one of my fav characters.

Garth, bless 'im, has never been one for old generalizations or dogmas. It's one of the reasons why every story the guy's done set in his native Norn Iron (from TROUBLED SOULS onward) has had the ring of truth about it, rather than seeming in anyway didactic. Which is why I'd guess he wouldn't really give a f**k about being called "British" or not.